Heart of a Champion

Longhorn Aquatics Head Coaches Loses Home, Pets in Fire

Longhorn Aquatics head coach Mike Laitala (right) and his wife Bridgette (left) lost their home in a fire last week. Their two dogs, Buddy and Cissy, were inside.

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Learn to Swim Program Launches in Cincinnati for Low Income Families

Cincinnati’s Mercy Health and former Xavier University swimmer Tony Miller partnered together to provide free swimming lessons to help stop child drownings.

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Swimmer Gives Back to Community for Thanksgiving

Sacramento swimmer raises money over Thanksgiving to donate to charity that works to prevent local families from going hungry.

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10 Swimming Charities Worth Your Attention on #GivingTuesday

Over 100 Olympians have participated in Swim Across America events, which has granted nearly $100 million in funding directly to support cancer research.

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Jeff Julian Hospitalized With Adenocarcinoma

Rose Bowl Aquatics and Cali Condors coach Jeff Julian revealed in his blog this week that he has been hospitalized with adenocarcinoma.

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IL Swimmer Mary Kate Phillips Performs CPR, Saves Choking Neighbor

St. Charles, Illinois swimmer and future Ball State Cardinal Mary Kate Phillips used CPR to save a young neighbor who was choking.

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With 3-5 Months To Live, Swimmer Chase Smith Marries Girlfriend Sadie

Swimmer Chase Smith was given three to five months to live after a six-year battle with Ewing’s Sarcoma. He married diver Sadie (Mills) Smith in April.

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Penny Oleksiak, Cheerios Team Up to Donate over $1 Million to Food Banks Canada

Penny Oleksiak, a 2016 Olympic gold medalist, is part of an effort by General Mills to redirect its Olympic advertising into foodbank advertising.

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11-Year-Old Emma Palmer Walking Again After January Brain Bleed

11-year-old swimmer Emma Palmer is walking again, less than 100 days after a harrowing post-practice collapse due to a spontaneous brain bleed.

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Alexandra Wall Was Determined To ‘Get Back To The Pool’ After Cancer Diagnosis

Alexandra Wall’s story reminds us that athletes have to deal with unprecedented circumstances every day. Her attitude and determination is inspiring.

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Penn State Men’s Swimming & Diving Team Participate in $11.7 Million THON Event

Penn State’s annual THON fundraiser has raised $167 million to fight childhood cancer in 47 years, including $11.7 million in 2020.

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Calvin University Swim Team Teaches Thai Children How to Swim

The Calvin University Knights traveled to Thailand in August and taught swimming lessons to children as part of an effort to stop human trafficking.

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Katie Meili and Eagle Academy Team up in the Name of Drowning Prevention

Katie Meili joins forces with Eagle Academy in pursuit of preventing drownings in a low-income community in Washington D.C.

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Kick for Kids: Helping Hospitalized Kids One Kick at a Time

Cyrus and Chad Morrison created Kick for Kids to support sick kids in local hospitals.

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Maarten Van Der Weijden: Spreading Cancer Awareness One Stroke At A Time

The Dutch swimmer raised a total of €3.9 million, which adds up to approximately $4.4 million. All funds raised went towards cancer research.

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